Study Shows Phthalates Absorbed from Flooring

Karlstad, Sweden, May 24, 2012 -- A new study at Karlstad University in Sweden apparently shows that phthalates from PVC flooring materials can be absorbed by infants, Science Daily reports.

The study was designed to investigate whether flooring materials using PVC can be tied to the uptake of phthalates by infants.

According to the story, urine samples were taken from 83 randomly selected children between the ages of two and six months by the county council in Värmland in western Sweden.

The prevalence of four types of phthalates in the urine was measured, and data were collected about flooring materials and the home, the family's lifestyle, and individual factors for the infants.

The testing showed that levels of certain phthalates were higher in the urine of babies that had flooring materials using softened PVC on their bedroom floor.

The story said that earlier studies from the current group have shown that PVC flooring can be tied to the occurrence of phthalates in indoor dust, and that exposure for BBzP in indoor dust could be associated with allergic conditions in children.